Blogs and Commentary

Lasting Impact from Beville's Iroquois Experience

From a philosophical approach to the game, Steve Beville's
selection as the head coach of the Iroquois National team that
participated at the World Games in Denver was an interesting
choice.

As Cortland's head coach, Beville oversees a grinding defensive
unit combined with a highly structured offense to wear down teams.
While his teams have certainly boasted plenty of individual talent,
the Beville's Red Dragon squads rarely have an individual player
take over a game. They are a seemingly monolithic entity working in
concert, and it has paid off in a national title and three other
finals appearances in the last eight years.

With the Iroquois, Beville was blessed with hyper-talented
personnel, most notably on the offensive end where the Nationals
boasted one of the most creative players our game – um,
their game – has ever seen in Lyle Thompson. The
dynamism of the Iroquois stood in stark contrast to Beville's
disciplined approach.

The heterogeneity of the challenge proved to be a fulfilling one
for Beville, who guided the Iroquois to its first medal at a senior
world championship with a third place finish.

"Obviously, it's a contrasting situation coaching a men's group
– older guys – and particularly with a difference
culture, a different community, with a different way of looking at
things," Beville said. "Nonetheless, it was great, and as far
coaching a group of some of the most talented players in the world,
obviously that was a great opportunity for me and a great honor.
Besides my family, lacrosse is the most important thing in my life.
To coach the community who are the creator's of the game was one of
the greatest opportunities of my life. Although it was a different
experience, I look back on it without one tiny regret. It was one
of the best experiences of my life."

It would make sense for Beville's fondest memories from Denver
to arise out of the 16-5 thrashing of Australia in the third-place
game or perhaps another on-field moment. That wasn't the case.

"The lacrosse side of things was incredible, working with those
guys from a professional standpoint and a lacrosse standpoint,"
Beville said. "But I'm going to remember the meals; the opportunity
to sit down and meet the guys and interact with the players. Get to
know them and their families. It was a great joy for me to build
relationships and get to know a group of people and a new group of
guys."

That might not be the only lasting remnant of Beville's time as
the coach of the Iroquois.

"I think going forward, we could change things up a little bit
in our approach to our structure and the way we do things," Beville
said, referring to his Cortland operation. "After watching the
incredible creativity that I saw from [the Iroquois], we may loosen
things up a little bit and give the players a little more
opportunity to be creative. A little bit less structure and a
little bit more freedom."

It's a startling admission for a coach with so much systemic
success. Whether that manifests itself in more no-look crease feeds
or behind-the-back shots remains to be seen, but it's safe to say
that Beville's connection with the Nationals didn't end in
Denver.